A Slaphappy Health Care Debate

By Adam SorensenTuesday, Nov. 02, 2010

Arguments between Democrats and Republicans over the merits of the new health-reform law are often heated, but it's not every day that they come to blows. This incident didn't go quite that far, but in a debate on Oct. 16 between Democratic Colorado Representative Ed Perlmutter and Republican Ryan Frazier, a verbal exchange briefly turned physical when Perlmutter, seemingly exasperated by his opponent's insistence that he name the exact page of the legislation that calls for medical-malpractice reform, reached out and slapped the hand of his gesticulating rival. The Democrat quickly apologized to Frazier, but not before the stunned Republican blurted out, "Ed, don't hit me, man. Come on!"